The cream Burberry polo shirt sported by the holidaying Tony Blair this week may have gone down well at Silvio Berlusconi's villa in Sardinia. But he better not try wearing anything from the classic English designer if he fancies popping out for a pint in Leicester.

To do so would run the risk of being confused with one of the binge-drinking hooligans on whom his government has declared war. Drinkers wearing Burberry have been banned from two pubs in the city centre because it is one of the favourite designers of a group of thugs.

The Barracuda Group, which owns 154 pubs in the UK, said it had banned designs synonymous with football hooligans.

Customers at the Parody and the Varsity will be turned away if they are wearing the luxury label, which was founded in 1856. Also unwelcome since the ban was imposed 11 days ago are those clad in Aquascutum (founded London 1851), Henri-Lloyd, Stone Island and Rockport.

Caroline Nodder, a spokeswoman for the Barracuda Group, said: "We've been working with the police in Leicester to draw up a list of clothing brands popular with a particular gang who have been causing problems."

PC Karen Holdridge, of the Leicestershire police's violence and disorder team, said: "Well-known football hooligans have a dress code. These people are recognised as coming into the city centre day in, day out and causing trouble."

Burberry was putting a brave face on the negative publicity. A spokeswoman said: "You have to look at this in context: Burberry is a highly successful international brand.

"In this country the 'Burberry check issue' is localised and pretty insignificant in the face of the overall appeal." She said the brand had always been "democratic" and had a "cross-generational appeal".

Henri-Lloyd, creators of high-quality sailing designs since 1963, was more annoyed. A spokesman said: "To stereotype and prejudice customers based on their choice of clothing seems ridiculous.

"For over 40 years Henri-Lloyd has been dressing everyone from members of the royal family through to Hollywood film stars and the Team GB sailing team, who won the first gold medal at the Olympics."